Jeff Mangum resurfaces at the Knitting Factory
Since news of the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour, everybody has had one question on their minds: Will Jeff Mangum be seen? Well, at NYC’s Knitting Factory this past Saturday, this question was answered. Arguably the most reclusive frontman in rock (aside from Kevin Shields, but hey they just had a reunion), the Neutral Milk Hotel songwriter has become the J.D. Salinger of the music world over the past decade. Since the release of the psych folk opus In the Aeroplane Over the Sea in 1998, Mangum’s presence has been seen only in the numerous groups and artists he has heavily influenced, from The Decemberists to Okkervil River.
Over the years, the band’s sophomore album has become the Bible of indie rock, a cult sensation as cherished as OK Computer or Pet Sounds. And so it came as quite a shock (although it was rumored) when Mangum appeared for about five minutes throughout the lengthy show Saturday night. Like a deceased friend come back to life, the legendary frontman appeared on stage. As expected, fans went nuts upon his emergence for his brief part on The Olivia Tremor Control’s “I Have Been Floated”, before returning for their “The Opera House”, and then again reappearing for Elf Power’s “The Arrow Flies Close”.
Unfortunately, although Mangum was in attendance and even performed, the only Aeroplane that anybody got was a reportedly lousy rendition of “The Fool”.
So what can we hope for with Mangum? Maybe he’ll make more appearances on the tour, maybe not. Maybe a reunion, a new album. Who knows? With a man as eccentric and reclusive as Jeff, there is really no telling what he will or will not do next. We’ll just have to wait and see. The trek resumes tomorrow in Portland’s Space Gallery.
Elephant 6 Collective’s Holiday Surprise Tour Dates:
10/14 - Portland, ME @ Space Gallery
10/15 - New Haven, CT @ The Space
10/16 - Purchase, NY @ SUNY Purchase
10/17 - Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar
10/18 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox
10/19 - Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center
10/20 - Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Pike Room
10/21 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
10/22 - Bloomington, IN @ Cinemat
10/23 - Lexington, KY @ University of Kentucky
10/25 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
Thanks Luke, and Ryan fyi I didn’t even read the pitchfork article.
Ryan how else would you describe someone who’s been in hiding pretty much since 1999….
Get back to me when Pitchfork starts crediting CoS.
Hahaha that was a bit of Pitchfork ripoff. The reclusive frontman bit. I forgive you!
But really, NMH or not, I would kill to see this guy perform, I am PERFECLTY fine with a solo set of some sort. I really think it could happen somewhere sometime in the near future. He has the support, but he needs the courage, and I think he’s accumulating that right now.
Agreed! We’ve got the title track of “In the Aeroplane” down as song of our day on the blog today. Didn’t realise the guy was still going.
Jeff Magnum= Best Song Writer To Come Out Of The 90’s
Dec 19th, 2008 at 9:02 am
[...] Honorable Mentions: Ezra Koenig w/ Fucked Up; Slash w/ Perry Farrell; Jeff Magnum w/ Elephant 6 [...]
Oct 31st, 2008 at 10:30 am
[...] to regain enough composure to perform and record again? I think there’s more of a chance at a Neutral Milk Hotel reunion or new Jeff Mangum album than [...]
Oct 20th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
[...] it came as somewhat of a shock that our reclusive Neutral Milk Hotel frontman Jeff Mangum had made several appearances at New York’s Knitting Factory for an Elephant Six Holiday Surprise Tour stop. Sure, people [...]